Game counter



Nov. 14, 1933. 1.. E. BALTZLEY 1,935,308

' GAME COUNTER Filed July 17. 1950 2 Shets-Sheet 1 ll .lllllllllllll IIIIIIIIII 5 .7 [0

Nov. 14, 1933. E. BALTZLEY ,3

GAME COUNTER Filed July 17, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 lllHlllllllll Patented Nov. 14, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE This invention relates to game counters, in the nature of poker chips and the like, and the objects of the invention are to provide an article of this type, which can be readily handled and picked up off a table or other fiat surface, which can be readily stacked, which will be attractive in appearance, which will hold its color or other ornamentation or markings and which can be produced inexpensively in various styles suitable for different games.

These objects are attained in the construction herein disclosed by the novel features hereinafter described and broadly claimed.

The drawings accompanying and forming part of the specification illustrate several practical embodiments of the invention, it being understood that the structure may be modified to suit varying requirements without departure from the true spirit and broad scope of the invention.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view illustrating one of the counters or chips and showing how the same automatically tilts up into the grasp of the fingers upon pressure on one edge of the same; Fig. 2 is a side view illustrating how the fingers come together through the opening in the counter to securely hold it even with light pressure; Fig. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the counter as on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a perspective view illustrating a modification;

36 Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional detail of another modification; Fig. 6 is a plan view of a further modificatlon.

The counter first illustrated is in the form of a disc 5 having a central opening 6 and provided with circularly spaced segments '7, 8, raised or embossed in alternate order on opposite faces of the same between the rim and centrally perforated portions.

In the construction shown, the raised segments are produced by embossing and hence depressions 9 of corresponding segmental outline are left in each face of the counter opposite the segments raised on the other face of the counter. These segmental depressions form seats for coloring 46 matter or other markings, between the raised portions, which latter operate as guards protecting such marks from wear by contact between the counters or with the table or supporting surface.

The raised portions are shown as having relatively sharp outer edges 10 to provide angular shoulders, which will serve as fulcrums for the up-tilting of the counter when pressure is exerted on the rim of the disc as in the line of the arrow 11 in Fig. 3. By such up-tilting, the disc is brought into the easy grasp of the fingers and the fingers then naturally hold the counter through the center opening therein as in Fig. 2, this being a particularly easy but secure way of gripping and handling the article.

By embossing alternate areas at opposite sides of the disc, the final overall thickness of the disc may be substantially tripled, as in the illustration, to form fulcrum shoulders of ample height, from relatively thin stock material. The embossing action may be either a punch or a molding operation, depending on the character of the material from which the counters are made. The coloring matter may fill up the depressions substantially flush with the original surface of the disc, as indicated, where 12 designates a body of enamel or other coloring matter filled in these seats or depressions.

The counters may be made from fiat stock material, so that when the segmental portions are raised from the opposite faces of the same, there will be a thin fiat parallel faced rim portion surrounding the abrupt angular fulcrum shoulders at the outer ends of the segments, enabling the counter to be readily tilted whether it be on a hard surface or a softer surface, such as might be provided by a table cover. The segments terminating short of the center disc leave a recessed open portion at the center, which is readily grasped by the fingers when the disc is tilted up by pressure on the outwardly extending leverage portion at the edge of the same.

' To better identify the counters when viewed edgewise as in Fig. 3, a groove 13 may be formed about the outer ends of the segments and this groove may be filled with enamel, extending up over the backs or outer edges of the segments as indicated at 14. Also in this view the identifying color is shown as extended up over the side edges of the segments at 15. This construction thus enables the counters to be readily identified when viewed edgewise in a stack. The groove also gives a continuity to the color, which makes the counters more easily identified. The fiat rim portion at the edge of the counter may be quite narrow as shown in Fig. 3, so as to cause the disc to tilt upward at quite a sharp angle when pressure is applied to the rim.

Instead of forming perforations entirely through the center of the counter, this central portion may be merely a depression or concavity as indicated at 16 in Fig. 5.

To prevent the counters from rolling too readily, the same may be made of polygonal outline, such as illustrated generally in Fig. 6, wherein one of the counters is shown made with a, plurality of sngularly releted sides 17.

What is claimed is:

1. A game counter, comprising a disc having depressions in each side and correspondingly raised portions on the opposite sides, said raised portions being spaced inward from the rim of the disc to afiord. fulcrums for up-tilting the disc when pressure is applied to the rim of the same.

2. A game counter, comprising a, disc heaving depressions in each side and correspondingly raised portions on the opposite sides, said raised portions being spaced inward from the rim of the memos disc to afford fulcrums for rip-tilting the disc when pressure is applied to the rim of the e,

and said disc having an opening therethrough st 

